Shruti Haasan talks about her parents Kamal Haasan and Sarika’s divorce, says "When my parents split up, everything changed...."

Shruti Haasan with Parents

Shruti Haasan, daughter of iconic actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, has openly discussed the impact of her parents' divorce and the valuable lessons she gained from their separation in a latest Interview,

Growing up in a family rich in artistic talent and privilege, Shruti’s childhood was marked by creativity and comfort. However, her parents’ split became a pivotal moment in her life, teaching her important lessons in independence, resilience, and emotional growth. Despite the challenges, Shruti’s experience shaped her into a strong, self-reliant individual, reinforcing the importance of maintaining one’s own identity while navigating life’s changes.

Shruti Haasan shared her personal journey during a podcast with Pinkvilla, offering an insightful look into her experiences and the lessons she learned from her parents' divorce, "See, I was born in a very beautiful family. Artistic, intelligent parents, and by the grace of God, lots of comforts. But I have seen the other side of it as well. When my parents split up, everything changed. That’s when I realised the value of financial independence, personality dependent independence. Especially being a daughter and seeing that mumma walked out of a marriage, it taught me an important lesson on why it is important for a woman to be independent,"

Kamal Haasan and Sarika’s love story began on the sets of the 1984 film Raaj Tilak, where their bond blossomed into a relationship that eventually led to marriage. Their union was deeply rooted in their shared passion for cinema, with their careers often intersecting. However, despite their love and mutual respect, challenges arose, ultimately leading them to part ways. Their divorce was finalized in 2004.

Reflecting on this chapter, Shruti highlighted her parents’ maturity in handling the situation, emphasizing how they always prioritized the well-being of their daughters above everything else.

"We always see how men’s independence is greatly celebrated," Shruti mentioned.

"I would also like to say that we don’t need to announce, ‘I am an independent feminist’… we don’t need to do it every day, it is a very silent, ‘un-applauded’ battle, truly. A lot of women relate to this one topic that there is no one to applaud for us, we’ll have to do it ourselves, we have to live every day and pay our bills and it’s a normal part of life." She continued.

Shruti Haasan mentioned that, "Of course it is painful, for the children as well as the parents. This is a normal part of so many homes today. And it is not like it is painful only when the parents are getting separated. There are homes, where, for society, the parents live together, sometimes there is more pain in those homes because it’s hidden,"

while recalling her older memories with her parents, she said, "For me, when they were together and happy, they were the most beautiful couple I have ever seen because they used to work together, go to the sets together, mumma would do her costumes… The whole family was into movies… I was also in the costume department, my sister (Akshara) was in the AD (assistant director) department, she also worked in the art department. So we were all a family of film people,"

Kamal Haasan and Sarika’s wedding in the 1980s was a grand celebration, uniting two of the most celebrated stars in Indian cinema. Sarika, known for her elegance and talent, and Kamal, a cinematic legend, embodied a perfect fusion of artistry and charm. Their marriage stood as a testament to their mutual love for the craft, with the couple frequently collaborating on films that made a lasting impact on Indian cinema. Although their union eventually ended, their love story and shared journey continue to be an essential part of their legacy, both as artists and parents to two talented daughters.